This is Pedro Nobre, the TUF: Brazil alum who made his UFC debut last weekend at UFC on FX 7 against fellow Brazilian Iuri Alcantara. As you can tell from the neck brace he is sporting in the above photo, his debut did not go well. Alcantara landed a few supposedly illegal shots to the back of Nobre’s dome, and likely in an effort to make up for his poor performance during the Alessio Sakara/Patrick Cote debacle at UFC 154, referee Dan Miragliotta waved the bout off and declared it a no contest when Nobre was unable to continue.

The only problem was that 90% of the shots Alcantara landed, if not all of them, were neither illegal nor all that devastating (at least from our perspective), which prompted Dana White to post the following on Twitter:

In fact, White became so enraged by Nobre’s Oscar-worthy performance that he recently all but completely closed the door on Nobre’s future UFC aspirations.

When White was pressed on the Nobre’s future in the UFC at the UFC 158 press conference yesterday, not only did he state that Alcantara had received a win bonus despite the no contest ruling, but that he “doubted” Nobre would be invited back to the octagon anytime soon:

I think he’s a fantastic actor. Did you hear he’s walking around Brazil with a neck brace on right now?

And as it turns out, Nobre did not suffer any long term injuries as a result of the fight, and recently told MMAJunkie that he was eager to get back in the octagon to rematch Alcantara:

We are both fighters with similar characteristics, who fight always moving forward. I wish to return to the octagon soon. In case the UFC asks for a [rematch], to remove any doubt, we would do everything to make it up to the audience.

Unfortunately for Nobre, it doesn’t look like he will be getting that chance. Check out a GIF of the stoppage right here, courtesy of our friends at Fightlinker. Whether you feel Nobre was legitimately unable to continue or not is ultimately a moot point; the real question to ask yourself is whether or not the shots that were responsible for ending the fight were illegal or not. And unless you’re Mr. Magoo, you’re probably going to say they weren’t.

[UPDATED]

According to multiple sources, Nobre has indeed been released from the promotion, along with Ken Stone (2-2 UFC, victim of two of themost brutal knockout losses of all time during his WEC and UFC runs), Byron Bloodworth (0-2 UFC) and Josh Janousek, who was set to make his promotional debut on short notice against Michael Kuiper at UFC on Fox 6, but recently pulled out with a last-minute injury.

Nobre recently responded to the allegations that he was faking an injury via Sherdog.com:

At no time during the fight did I complain about blows to the neck because I was almost knocked out there and did not know where the blows were coming. And nobody asked me also if I could continue, they just asked what hurt. Then I thought I had lost [the fight]. Only at the hospital did they tell me that it had been ruled a no contest. It was a bad thing to have taken the victory from Yuri, but when I reviewed the fight, I saw that the blows really came on the neck. It is illegal, so the no contest was fair. I felt the blows when I turned back. I was almost knocked out already. If he did not land those blows to the neck, he would have achieved a fair victory. As for the crowd, I did not understand why they called me quitter because, as I said, in my mind I was leaving to the hospital after losing by TKO. I saw the repercussions on the Internet, and I was sad. Everyone who has been following my career knows me. Everyone knows the character I have, but [some are saying] that I gave up the fight. Gee, brother, I was knocked out. The referee stopped it; the fight was over. I did not ask to stop, and they did not ask if I wanted to continue.

I think all fighters should have a mohawk so it is easier for the refs to tell what is illegal.

Or better yet, demonstrate legal, then illegal, blows on good ol' eagle-eyed, Dan. Finally, after the "illegal" shots, he should then demonstrate to everyone just exactly "why" a neckbrace is necessary...unlike Nobre. And wow, I SO disagree with the "Oscar Award winning acting"...dear Lord, it was pathetically obvious. He should ask for a job on "Operation Repo"...

mma4ever- January 24, 2013 at 4:17 pm

I think he got one of his ears punched off and look at that jaw...poor sap.

Alan K- January 24, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Can you call someone a TUF alum when they lost their fight to get into the house? I guess but it doesn't feel right.

Mr_Misanthropy- January 24, 2013 at 12:53 pm

Hah hah! I called that shit! Brazilian Days of Our Lives!

cman- January 24, 2013 at 12:44 pm

in hockey if you intentionally give up your back bracing for a hit the hit remains legal..... thinking that should be the case here.

eselockster- January 24, 2013 at 12:42 pm

i can see how dan couldnt tell them apart (legal,illegal blows) and just stopped it. figthers safety is most important aspect for aa referee, or at least should be. nobre was no doubt milking it for all is worth tho

I think all fighters should have a mohawk so it is easier for the refs to tell what is illegal.

Goog- January 24, 2013 at 11:32 am

"Pretorian - characteristic of or similar to the corruptible soldiers in the Praetorian Guard with respect to corruption; similar - corrupt; lacking in integrity"

painvelasquez- January 24, 2013 at 11:07 am

I was screaming at my TV when his stoppage happened. Total BS. If he did get hit illegally he deserved it..

jcv1986- January 24, 2013 at 10:54 am

The first 2 shots on that vid landed square on the back of the neck/spinal cord,the 3rd shot on the back of the head. They were not super hard nor soft. The first two could of done some damage. In any case he should have give the goof some time,taken a point and carried on. Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and let them go at it again!!!!!!.....

angry little feet- January 24, 2013 at 10:03 am

Whatever. Forget about this clown shoes. Moving on.

amsterdamheavy- January 24, 2013 at 9:43 am

Isnt this the dude that got elbowed right on his ear ad then went into actor mode? If so, this .gif sucks. If not, i guess I wasnt paying that much attention to the fights that night.

Mr_Misanthropy- January 24, 2013 at 1:32 pm

Yeah the other angles showed that the elbows clearly landed to the side of the head and the other shots hit him in the ear. Alcantara actually seemed to be very carefully picking his shots. He did use his palm on the back of the neck at the shoulder blades to post up on Nobre but that shit's legal.

ArmFarmer- January 24, 2013 at 9:26 am

How bout we let fighters fight. If he's not intentionally unloading on the back of the head, and the guy is deliberately only presenting the back of the head, and the other guy is actively attempting to finish and showing an effort not to hit the back of the head... I mean at what point does it just become completely pointless? "Ok guys fight.. just make sure you don't hit eachother too much.. ok ok that's enough this is just gonna be a no contest now go home"

knucklesamitch- January 24, 2013 at 9:06 am

Maybe it's me ... But it looks like 2 illegal shots to me. Now, whether he should have been able to continue or not, that's a different story.